Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Lady Masooma (as)

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE ALL-BENEFICENT, THE ALL-MERCIFUL

FELICITATIONS TO YOU ALL ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF HADHRAT FATIMA MA'SUMA (PEACE BE UPON HER)

10 DAYS OF NOBILITY:

The first ten days of the lunar month of Dhul Qa’dah are celebrated in some Muslim countries like Iran as Daheye Karamat (ten days of nobility). This is because they start with the birthday of Hadhrat Ma’suma (‘a) on the 1st of Dhul Qa’da [173 AH] and meet with the birthday of her sibling, Imam al-Ridha (‘a) on the 11th [148 AH] of the same month. Both are epitomes of spiritual greatness and nobility. Their life histories are brim with lessons for us to learn and emulate. Celebrating such occasions is to remember their personalities and instill in us the spirit of obedience to Almighty Allah. When one beholds the tomb of Hadhrat Ma’suma (‘a) in the holy city of Qum, which in reality serves as its fundamental source of light, one should be overtaken with the purity it exemplifies. Her radiant shrine constantly echoes a very important message for all her lovers: protect yourself from sin and struggle for infallibility. She was known as al-Ma’suma by her infallible brother Imam al-Ridha (‘a) due to her immaculate personality. If we are receptive enough to absorb her message, we would struggle for purity. Celebration in reality is an act of commitment and pledge. We must resolve to flee from sin, in order to celebrate this occasion of joy. Imam al-Ridha (‘a) likewise gives a similar message but in another language: the language of Divine pleasure. The word al-Ridhaa connotes both al-Raadhi (the pleased one) and al-Mardhi (the one whom one is pleased with). In other words He is pleased with what Allah does, and Allah is pleased with Him. He thus enjoys the state of a contented soul (al-nafs al-mutma’inna), whose status is so high, that Almighty Allah addresses it thus: “O soul at peace! Return to your Lord, pleased, pleasing! Then enter among My servants! And enter My paradise!” (89:27-30)The word “jannati” (my Paradise) in the verse refers to the loftiest kind of Paradise, which scholars of authority call “Jannat al-Liqa’”(the Paradise of encountering Allah). Such a station is what has to be experienced and words do not qualify to express. Fortunate are those who are able to visit the radiant shrines of Imam al-Ridha (‘a) and her noble sister Hadhrat Ma’suma (‘a). Mere visitation, however, is not enough. We need reflective minds who are able to draw a world of information by beholding such edifices of light, that can transport every receptive heart to the true meaning of belief, action, love, steadfastness, extinction in the Divine, absorption, revolution, emancipation, concern, etc.

Allah is the greatGlory be to AllahPraise be to AllahPeace be on Adam, the Choice of Allah! Peace be on Noah, the Prophet of Allah,Peace be on Ibraheem, the Friend of Allah, Peace be on Mosa who spoke to Allah, Peace be on Isa, the Spirit of Allah.Peace be on you, O Messenger of Allah, Peace be on you, O the best of the MankindPeace be on you, O Choice of Allah! Peace be on you. O Mohammed bin Abdullah, the last of the Prophets!Peace be on you, O Ali bin Abi Talib, Commander of the faithful and the Successor of the Messenger of Allah.Peace be on you, O Fatimah, the Leader of the women of the worlds,Peace be on you, O the grandsons of the Prophet of Mercy, and the leaders of the youth of ParadisePeace be on you, O Ali bin Husain, the leader of worshippers, O Coolness of investigating eyes,Peace be on you, O Mohammed bin Ali, O the explorer of the knowledgePeace be on you, O Jafar bin Mohammed, the truthful the benign, the trustworthy,Peace be on you, O Mosa bin Jafar, the pure, the purified,Peace be on you, O Ali bin Mosa, the pleased, the gratified,Peace be on you, O Mohammed bin Ali, the pious one Peace be on you, O Ali bin Mohammed, the pure, the advising guardian, and the trustworthyPeace be on Hasan bin Ali, Peace be on the successor after himO Allah, bless your light, the successor and vicegerent of Thy Messenger and Thy decisive argument over mankindPeace be on you, O daughter of the Messenger of Allah! Peace be on you, O, daughter of Fatimah and Khadeejah!Peace be on you, O, daughter of the Commander of the faithful! Peace be on you, O, daughter of Hasan and Husain!Peace be on you, O, daughter of the vicegerent of Allah! Peace be on you, O, sister of the vicegerent of Allah! Peace be on you, O, Aunt of the vicegerent of Allah!Peace be on you, O, daughter of Mosa bin Jafar! May Allah confer His Mercy and blessing on you!Peace be on you May Allah grant us your companionship on the day of Judgmentand guide us to follow your footsteps and lead us to your grandfather's fountain andquench our thirst out of it, with Mohammed's own cup in Ali's hand,Allah bless you All. I ask Allah to grant us, through you, happiness, ease and your companionship,together with your grandfather on the day of Judgmentand not to deprive us from understanding you. Indeed, He is Protector and Powerful on everything.O Allah, I seek Thy nearness through my love for you, my enmity for your enemies and my surrender to Allah willingly, not arrogantly my acceptance,with unshaken faith, what He communicated to Mohammed seeking in that Thy Face! Thy satisfaction, and the next world.O Master! Stand by us when Allah sits in judgment over us, O intimate of Allah,O Allah, I ask Thee to make my ending happy, and not to take away what you have given meThere is neither might nor power but with Allah, the Great, the Exalted.So by Thy generosity, might Mercy and bounteousness, comply with our supplication,Allah, bless Mohammed, and his pious and pure Progeny and give them abundant peace! O the most Merciful of the Merciful.